Council introduces increase to police administrative surcharge; Chief previews PoliceApp recruiting approach and council OKs community events

The council introduced Ordinance 2026-11 to amend Chapter 37 of the Borough Code to increase the administrative surcharge on quasi-public police duty fees to 25% to reflect rising costs and align with neighboring municipalities. The ordinance was introduced by motion of Councilman Wachterhauser, seconded by Councilman Smith, and passed by unanimous roll call; it will return for public hearing per statutory notice requirements.

Chief Johnson, present in the audience, summarized a PoliceApp recruiting approach to fill a vacancy on the Police Department, saying the app screens candidates and forwards qualified applicants to the chief for interview. "The App is free. They make their money by billing the applicant," he said. The council asked the Borough Attorney to review any contract or terms before adoption and requested a resolution to appear on the next meeting agenda.

On community events, the council granted a recurring Spring Lane block party for June 27, 2026 (resolution on the consent agenda) and approved Stanhope Hose Company No. 1's bucket-drop dates for July and September conditionally, subject to county and NJDOT permits and the traffic safety plan; Councilman Simpson abstained on the bucket-drop vote.